The Wreckers’ Debut Single Hits No. 1

Hooray for the Wreckers, whose debut single has catapulted to No. 1 on Billboard‘s country singles chart, and three cheers and an earsplitting whistle if you please for the elongated Trace Adkins, whose album, Dangerous Man, stands on the pinnacle of the country albums list for the second consecutive week.

But, hold! Hurtling toward Adkins like another goosed metaphor is Pat Green’s new CD, Cannonball. It rockets into the slot that’s just No. 2-close-for comfort.

Alas, Dangerous Man tumbles from the No. 3 niche it soared to last week on the Billboard 200, the trade publication’s all-formats chart, to a modest No. 14 after being elbowed out by a throng of debut albums, among them Paris Hilton’s maiden effort.

In reaching No. 1, the Wreckers’ “Leave the Pieces” dislodges Rodney Atkins’ “If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows),” which drops back to No. 3. According to Billboard, the Wreckers are the first duo to top the country chart with their debut single since Brooks & Dunn claimed the honor in 1991 with “Brand New Man.” It also marks the first time a female duo has accomplished the feat since the Davis Sisters’ 1953 single, “I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know.”

There’s not a lot happening in the lower regions of the albums chart. Believe: Songs of Faith From Today’s Top Country & Christian Artists makes a noteworthy entrance at No. 31 while Jeff Bates’ Leave the Light On re-enters the chart at a relatively dim No. 71. At the top, the new collections from Adkins and Green are followed by Rascal Flatts’ Me and My Gang (No. 3), Josh Turner’s Your Man (No. 4) and Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts (No. 5).

The only two new singles debuting on this week’s chart are Brad Paisley’s “She’s Everything,” arriving at No. 57, and Keith Anderson’s “Podunk,” clomping in at No. 59. Steve Azar’s “You Don’t Know a Thing” returns from the shadows to No. 60.

Steve Holy’s “Brand New Girlfriend” (No. 2) moves up to No. 2 to wedge itself between the aforementioned titles from the Wreckers and Rodney Atkins. George Strait’s “Give It Away” moves up to No. 4, and Little Big Town’s “Bring It on Home” slips to No. 5.